Washing machine

ABSTRACT

A washing machine for glassware and other utensils having a utensil chamber and wash and rinse cycles wherein wash and rinse liquids are injected into the chamber and having a structural arrangement maintaining the separateness of the liquids while permitting storage and reuse of the wash liquid. The structure embodies a main basin for the wash liquid and an auxiliary basin mounted to recieve liquid runoff from the utensil chamber and to overflow into the main basin. The auxiliary basin is provided with a valved drain so as to provide such overflow during the wash cycle thereby obtaining a recirculation of the wash liquid, and to provide when open and during the rinse cycle for a continuous draining of the auxiliary basin thereby preventing comingling of the wash and rinse liquids. During the rinse cycle, the wash liquid is held separately stored in the main basin for reuse in cleaning the next batch of utensils placed in the machine.

United States Patent [191 Raefield Wov.6,i973

[ WASHING MACHINE [75] Inventor: Robert W. Raefield, Concord, Calif.

[73] Assigneez Systems Enterprises line, Concord,

Calif.

[22] Filed: Nov. 30, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 203,150

Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney-Manfred M. Warren et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A washing machine for glassware and other utensils Farrellet al. 137/576 X having a utensil chamber. and wash and rinse cycleswherein wash and rinse liquids are injected into the chamber and havinga structural arrangement maintaining the separateness of the liquidswhile permitting storage and reuse of the wash liquid. The structureembodies a main basin for the wash liquid and an auxiliary basin mountedto recieve liquid runoff from the utensil chamber and to overflow intothe main basin. The auxiliary basin is provided with a valved drain soas to provide such overflow during the wash cycle thereby obtaining arecirculation of the wash liquid, and to provide when open and duringthe rinse cycle for a continuous draining of the auxiliary basin therebypreventing co-mingling of the wash and rinse liquids. During the rinsecycle, the wash liquid is held separately stored in the main basin forreuse in cleaning the next batch of utensils placed in the machine,

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Robert W Raefield 2km Attorneys with the next load of articles which isplaced in the machine for washing, rinsing and sanitizing. In such case,care needs be taken during the rinse and sanitizing cycles that the washand rinse liquids be kept separate and that dilution andcross-contamination be avoided. Previously, this has been done by theuse of mechanically displaceable plates or closures for the wash liquidstorage basin and attendant mechanical drive structurewhich are subjectto jamming by fallen or misplaced utensils or to other mechanicalfailure or malfunctioning. An object of the present invention is toprovide a washing machine of the character described wherein theseparateness and integrity of the several liquids, and storage of thewash solution, are assured by the structural arrangement ofa pluralityof liquidcatch basins and simple valving construction, thus avoidingcompletely the requirement for relatively large, moving plates orclosures, attendant mechanical drives, or other moving parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machineof the character described which has an improved washing ability'withthe wash solution producing a scrubbing action on the articles to becleaned as the solution impinges on and flushes over the articles beingcleaned.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a washingmachine of the character above which is specially constructed for easyand convenient access to the mechanically operating parts, suchas'pumps, motors, valves and the like for servicing and maintenance.

The invention possesses other objects and-features of advantage, some ofwhich of the foregoing will be set forth in the following description ofthe preferred form v of the invention which is illustrated in thedrawings accompanying and forming part of this specification. It is tobe understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the saiddrawings and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a washing machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation ofthe' washing machine.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of some of the principal parts ofthe machine.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the machine taken substantially onthe plane of line 4-4 of FIG-6.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the machine takensubstantially on the plane of line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the machine taken substantially onthe plane of line 6-6 of FIG. 4 and with the top cabinet portion of themachine elevated from the base.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine as taken at line7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the structure as indicated by the plane of line8-8 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the drainstructure for the main basin and is taken substantially on the plane ofline 9-9 of FIG. 6.

FIG-l0 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the liquidflow conduit producing pulsation.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional end view of the conduit portion shown inFIG. 10.

The washing machine of the present invention comprises briefly a housing16 providing a main basin 17; a relatively elevated auxiliary basin 18(see FIG. 5) pcsitioned for overflow of liquid therein and therefrom tothe main basin 17; a utensil chamber 19 positioned above the basins;means 21 diverting liquid gravitating in chamber 19 to auxiliary basin18; a valve 22 (FIGS. 6 and 8) mounted in and controlling the fluid flowthrough a discharge passage 23 in the auxiliary basin, the valve inclosed position causing liquid in basin 18 to overflow into main basinl7, and in open position continuously draining the auxiliary basin toprevent such overflow; and a pump 24 having an inlet 26 connected to arecycling outlet 27 for the main basin, and an outlet 23 connected todischarge liquid into chamber 19, wherein when valve 22 is closed,liquid will be recirculated to the chamber from the main basin afteroverflow from the auxiliary basin. As will be best observed from FIGS.4, 5 and 8, the main and auxiliary basins 17 and 18 are of elongatedform positioned in contiguous parallel relation with a common wall 31therebetween. This wall has a foreshortened height as compared to theopposite walls 32 and 33 of the auxiliary and main basins so as todefine a weir for liquid overflow fromthe auxiliary basin 18 into themain basin 17. As will be further observed from FIGS. 3 and 5, the mainand auxiliary basins are positioned medially of and are connected tobottom wall portions 36 and 37 of chamber 19 with the wall portionssloping downwardly to the chambers so as to carry the liquid runoff.

The aforementioned means 21 for diverting runoff liquid into theauxiliary basin here comprises a tray or cover demountably positioned incovering relation to the main basin, but having an opening permittingthe runoff of liquid into the auxiliary basin. Easy removal of suchclosure is desirable to permit the addition of detergent or othermaterial into the main basin and for general access to and cleaning ofthe main basin. As

here shown, a pair of trays 33 and 39 are so deployed. Tray 33 isdimensioned to cover approximately onehalf of the area over both themain and auxiliary basins. Tray 39 is dimensioned to cover the balanceof the main basin. 17 and to provide a support for one edge of a screen41 covering the balance of the auxiliary basin. As a feature of thepresent construction, a trough 42 is formed around a portion of the topperiphery of the main basin and to drain into the auxiliary basin. Aswill be best seen in FIGS. 3 and 3, this trough has one side 43extending longitudinally of the main basin 17 at its juncture withchamber wall 37, and rightangle end portions 44 and 43 leading andopening to auxiliary basin 1%. Additionally, the trough is here formedwith a transverse center portion 46, also extending at right angles toside 43 and extending to the weir wall 31 for discharge into auxiliarychamber 18. Each of the trays 33 and 39 is formed with a dependingperipheral flange 51, see FIG. 3, which is dimensioned for mounting inthe trough so that all of the runoff liquid will be carried into theauxiliary chamber. The medial transverse trough portion 46 will supportthe adjacent depending flanges of trays 38 and 39.

In the present apparatus, utensils to be cleaned are mounted in rackswhich may be moved over chamber door 52 when in open position, as seenin FIG. 2, into the washing chamber for support on guides 53 provided inthe base of the chamber for this purpose. Washing and rinsing of theutensils is effected by the plurality of spray nozzles 54 provided in aplurality of manifolds 56, 57 and 58 which are shaped to annular,preferably rectangular, form to surround the baskets or racks ofutensils carried on tracks 53. Preferably, two longitudinally spacedsets of such manifolds are used for most effective cleaning action andwhich are ganged together for common reciprocation longitudinally of thechamber during the wash and rinse cycles. The three manifolds 61, 62 and63 comprising the second set are connected in parallel with manifolds56, 57 and 58 by linking conduits 64. As a feature of the presentconstruction, the three manifolds are used for the wash, rinse andmineral-free rinse, respectively, thereby eliminatingcross-contamination inherent in a single manifold system and avoidingthe requirement of flushing of the mainfolds in order to obtain a clearwater rinse.

Longitudinal reciprocation of the manifolds 56-58 and 61-63 is effectedby a double-acting, fluidpowered cylinder 66 mounted horizontallylongitudinally in the washing chamber 19 and having a piston rod 67connected by a bracket arm 68 to the manifold set 56-58. Tracks 71 and72 secured to the underside of the manifolds are slidably carried onlongitudinally extending rails 73 and 74 in the base of the wash chamberfor guiding the longitudinal reciprocation of the manifolds. Oppositehead ends 76 and 77 of cylinder 66 are connected by conduits 78 and 79to a solenoid operated valve 81 (FIG. 6) which is in turn connected to asource of fluid under pressure (not shown) for energizing the cylinderand reciprocating the manifolds.

Preferably, two pumps 24 and 84 are used for powering for therecirculation of the wash solution and are connected in parallel betweena pair of outlet fittings 27 and 87 in the base of the main chamber 17and manifolds 57 and 62. Conduits 88 and 89 connect fittings 27 and 87with the suction inlets 26 and 91 of pumps 24 and 84 (FIG. 6) andconduits 92 and 93 connect the discharge outlets 28 and 94 of pumps 24and 84 with one of the linking conduits 64 connecting manifolds 57 and62 (FIG. 7). Rinse manifolds 56 and 61 are connected by conduit 96(FIGS. 6 and 7) to a solenoid valve 97 which is in turn connected to thehouse service main 98. The final rinse is provided by manifolds 58 and63, which are connected by conduit 99 to the discharge outlet 101 ofpump 102 having its suction inlet 103 connected to a source of distilledor demineralized water. If desired, a steam or electic heating coil 104may be mounted in the main basin 17 for maintaining wash solutiontemperature. The latter is here shown connected by conduits 106 and 107to a steam line 108. Fill water for the wash solution is introduced intothe main basin 17 by pipe 111 connected by conduit 112 to the mainservice line 98, the quantity of wash solution being constantlymaintained by conventional float valves (not shown). By the use oftimers and conventional control and indicating devices, some of whichare shown on a front control panel 109 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the apparatusmay be operated manually or automatically through a pre-rinse cycle withwater supplied from main 98, a wash cycle with wash solution suppliedfrom the main basin through pumps 24 and 84, a fresh rinse cycle withwater supplied from main 98, and a demineralized rinse with watersupplied through pump 102 from a water source (not shown). Usually, main98 will be a hot water supply line so that the pre-rinse and fresh rinseare both a hot water rinse. An exhaust blower 113 may optionally beprovided for chamber 19. As here shown, such a blower is mounted on thetop 114 of cabinet 16 and is connected by duct 116 through the top 114to withdraw water vapor from the chamber for discharge from the outletside 117 of the blower.

The bottom wall 121 of the main basin is formed with a drain opening122. A stand pipe 123 is mounted on wall 121 in surrounding relation toopening 122 so as to provide a drain closing position when the lower endof the stand pipe is engagement with the wall in sealing relation toopening 122. The upper end 124 of the stand pipe is open so as todetermine the maximum liquid level height in the main basin. Draining ofthe basin is effected by raising the stand pipe, which is here effectedby a hydraulic cylinder 126 mounted at the upper end of a rigid conduit127 supported by a wall 128'of a drain passage underlying wall 121.Cylinder 126 has a piston rod 129 connected to the top 124 of the standpipe. Preferably, actuator 126 functions not only to raise the standpipe, but is also biased or powered to press the stand pipe downwardlyagainst bottom wall 121 in drain closing position. As a feature of thepresent construction, there is provided at the lower end of the standpipe an annular valve member 131 of soft, compressible material forengagement with the bottom wall 121 and which will distort aroundutensils inadvertently placed at the drain opening 122. Preferably, asimilar type of annular valve member is provided at the base of valve22. Wall 128 provides a box-like enclosure (FIGS. 4 and 6) with theexterior wall of the main basins 17 at the forward end thereof so as todefine a drain passage 132 which extends from drain opening 23 pastdrain opening 122 and is adapted to be connected by conduit extension133 to the house sewer.

As a feature of the present construction, all of the pumps and controlmechanism is mounted within a base 136 of the machine; the washingchamber, manifolds, basins and valves therefor are carried by a tophousing section 137; and all of the connections between the base and tophousing section are made by flexible conduits which permit elevation ofthe top section 137 from the base section 136 (FIG. 6) to provide anaccess opening 138 between the sections affording repairmen easy andopen access to the operating ma chinery contained within the base. Thisaccess opening is augmented by the downward and inwardly sloping wallportions 36 and 37 of the bottom wall of the chamber which provide therunoff to the auxiliary basin. As here shown, both the top and bottomcabinet sections 136 and 137 are of generally rectangular form so thatthe base periphery 141 of the top section 137 may be directly supportedon an open top base rim 142. Additionally, a removable door enclosure139 is provided at the front of the base section 136 to afford access tomachinery and parts located forwardly in the base.

As another and important feature of the present construction, a resonantpulsation is imparted to the wash solution so as to improve itsscrubbing action on the utensils being cleaned and, importantly, thiseffect is produced without using conventional electrically generatedimpulses or mechanically moving parts. With reference to FIGS. and 11,it will be seen that the pulsating action imparted to the wash solutionis effected by the combination of a spiral vane 146 mounted in each ofconduits 92 and 93 leading from the high pressure sides 28 and 94 ofpumps 24 and 84, and an elbow 147 in the conduit providing a change indirection of the liquid flow downstream from vane 146. l have found thatthe combination of the rotary swirl imparted to the liquid by vane 146and the abrupt change in direction of the liquid flow produced by elbow147 will set up a most effective resonant pulsation in the wash liquid.Preferably, the change in direction produced by elbow 147 is about90degrees. Member 146 is here formed with a planar end portion 148 whichis mounted and secured (as by a press fit) diametrically within theinterior of conduit 92-93 with end 148 facing upstream toward the pumpdischarge. The member is of flat, plate-like form and the portiondownstream from end 148 is twisted about a longitudinal axis so as toprovide a spiral vane portion 149 which imparts a rotary motion to theliquid flow thereby.

I claim:

1. A washing machine comprising:

a housing providing a main basin and a relatively elevated auxiliarybasin positioned for overflow of liquid therein and therefrom to saidmain basin and a utensil chamber positioned above said basins; meansdiverting liquid gravitating in said chamber to said auxiliary basin;

said auxiliary basin being provided with a discharge passage and saidmain basin with a recycling outlet;

a valve mounted in said discharge passage and being movable to open andclosed positions therein, said valve in closed position causing liquidin said auxiliary basin to overflow into said main basin, and in openposition causing liquid in said auxilary basin to be dischargedtherefrom through said discharge passage and prevent said overflow; and

a pump having an inlet connected to said recycling outlet and an outletconnected to discharge liquid into said chamber, whereby when said valveis closed liquid will be recirculated to said chamber from said mainbasin after overflow from said auxiliary basin.

2. A washing machine as defined in claim 1, a wall of said auxiliarybasin defining a weir for liquid overflow from said auxiliary basin intosaid main basin.

3. A washing machine as defined in claim 2, said auxiliary basin andmain basin being of elongated form positioned in contiguous parallelrelation with said wall positioned therebetween.

4. A washing machine as defined in claim 3, said basins being positionedmedially of and connected to bottom wall portions of said chamber withsaid wall portions sloping downwardly to said chambers.

5. A washing machine as defined in claim 4, said means comprising a traydemountably positioned in covering relation to said main basin.

6. A washing machine as defined in claim 5, means defining a trough atthe top periphery of said main basin and formed to drain into saidauxiliary basin; and

said tray having a depending peripheral flange mounted in said trough.

7. A washing machine as defined in claim 6, means defining a secondtrough extending across said main basin medially of its length; and

a plurality of said trays each having a depending peripheral flangemounted in said second trough.

8. A washing machine having a utensil chamber and wash and rinse cycleswherein wash and rinse liquids are injected into said chamber, astructural arrangement maintaining the separateness of said liquidswhile permitting storage and reuse of said wash liquid comprising:

a main basin;

means for introducing wash liquid into said basin;

a pump having its inlet side connected to said basin and its dischargeside connected to said chamber for washing of utensils mounted therein;

an auxiliary basin mounted to receive liquid runoff from said chamberand being constructed to overflow into said main basin, said auxiliarybasin having a drain outlet;

a valve mounted to control the discharge from said outlet, said valve inclosed position causing said overflow into said main basin and in openposition preventing such overflow; and

means for injecting rinse water into said chamber.

9. A washing machine as defined in claim 10, said main basin having abottom wall formed with a drain opening therein;

a stand pipe having a drain closing position with a lower end thereofmounted on said wall around and in sealing relation to said opening,said stand pipe having an open upper end determining the maximum liquidlevel in said main basin; and

means elevating said stand pipe to drain opening position with saidlower pipe end spaced from said wall.

10. A washing machine as defined in claim 9, said last named meanscomprising a power operated actuator for raising said stand pipe to openposition and pressing said stand pipe against said bottom wall in drainclosing position; and

an annular valve member of soft compressible material mounted at thelower end of said stand pipe for engagement with said bottom wall andfunctioning in drain closing position to distort around utensilsinadvertently placed at said drain opening.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,770,010 Dated November 6, 1973 Inven or (s) ROBERT W. RAEFIELD It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 11,, change "to" to -of. v

Signed and sealed this 1mm day-of May 197A.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETGHER,JR. a c. MARSHALL'DANN Attesting Officer Commissienerof Patents FORM PO-IOSQ (10-69) uscoMM-oc wan-Pee T I I GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE IDCQ 02066334

1. A washing machine comprising: a housing providing a main basin and arelatively elevated auxiliary basin positioned for overflow of liquidtherein and therefrom to said main basin and a utensil chamberpositioned above said basins; means diverting liquid gravitating in saidchamber to said auxiliary basin; said auxiliary basin being providedwith a discharge passage and said main basin with a recycling outlet; avalve mounted in said discharge passage and being movable to open andclosed positions therein, said valve in closed position causing liquidin said auxiliary basin to overflow into said main basin, and in openposition causing liquid in said auxilary basin to be dischargedtherefrom through said discharge passage and prevent said overflow; anda pump having an inlet connected to said recycling outlet and an outletconnected to discharge liquid into said chamber, whereby when said valveis closed liquid will be recirculated to said chamber from said mainbasin after overflow from said auxiliary basin.
 2. A washing machine asdefined in claim 1, a wall of said auxiliary basin defining a weir forliquid overflow from said auxiliary basin into said main basin.
 3. Awashing machine as defined in claim 2, said auxiliary basin and mainbasin being of elongated form positioned in contiguous parallel relationwith said wall positioned therebetween.
 4. A washing machine as definedin claim 3, said basins being positioned medially of and connected tobottom wall portions of said chamber with said wall portions slopingdownwardly to said chambers.
 5. A washing machine as defined in claim 4,said means comprising a tray demountably positioned in covering relationto said main basin.
 6. A washing machine as defined in claim 5, meansdefining a trough at the top periphery of said main basin and formed todrain into said auxiliary basin; and said tray having a dependingperipheral flange mounted in said trough.
 7. A washing machine asdefined in claim 6, means defining a second trough extending across saidmain basin medially of its length; and a plurality of said trays eachhaving a depending peripheral flange mounted in said second trough.
 8. Awashing machine having a utensil chamber and wash and rinse cycleswherein wash and rinse liquids are injected into said chamber, astructural arrangement maintaining the separateness of said liquidswhile permitting storage and reuse of said wash liquid comprising: amain basin; means for introducing wash liquid into said basin; a pumphaving its inlet side connected to said basin and its discharge sideconnected to said chamber for washing of utensils mounted therein; anauxiliary basin mounted to receive liquid runoff from said chamber andbeing constructed to overflow into said main basin, said auxiliary basinhaving a drain outlet; a valve mounted to control the discharge fromsaid outlet, said valve in closed position causing said overflow intosaid main basin and in open position preventing such overflow; and meansfor injecting rinse water into said chamber.
 9. A washing machine asdefined in claim 10, said main basin having a bottom wall formed with adrain opening therein; a stand pipe having a drain closing position witha lower end thereof mounted on said wall around and in sealing relationto said opening, said stand pipe having an open upper end determiningThe maximum liquid level in said main basin; and means elevating saidstand pipe to drain opening position with said lower pipe end spacedfrom said wall.
 10. A washing machine as defined in claim 9, said lastnamed means comprising a power operated actuator for raising said standpipe to open position and pressing said stand pipe against said bottomwall in drain closing position; and an annular valve member of softcompressible material mounted at the lower end of said stand pipe forengagement with said bottom wall and functioning in drain closingposition to distort around utensils inadvertently placed at said drainopening.